Home / Health Insurance / Articles / Baby / Baby Food / Calcium Rich Foods For Babies

Calcium Rich Foods For Babies

Team AckoDec 2, 2024

As your baby grows and starts eating solid foods in addition to milk, it’s time to focus on including calcium-rich foods in their diet to support strong, healthy bones. Calcium is essential for healthy nerve and muscle function and plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy heart.

Contents

Calcium-Rich Foods For Babies: Why The Need For Calcium?
Calcium-Rich Foods For Your Baby: What Are The Foods Rich In Calcium?
Wrapping it up!
Frequently Asked Questions

Calcium-Rich Foods For Babies: Why The Need For Calcium?

We only get one chance to build strong bones — during childhood and adolescence. If your child gets enough calcium, they can start their adult life with the strongest bones possible. Healthy bones from an early age set your baby up for a healthier future. This makes calcium a crucial consideration for parents. It’s essential for your baby for several important reasons, such as.

Bone formation
Strong teeth
Maintaining healthy muscles
Prevention against diseases like osteoporosis, kidney diseases and rickets

Calcium-Rich Foods For Your Baby: What Are The Foods Rich In Calcium?

Breast milk or formula milk provides sufficient calcium for babies up to 6 months of age. Once your baby is introduced to solid foods (around 6 months and older), it's important to include calcium-rich foods. However, always be mindful of the precautions associated with each food type. These foods include.

Pulses And Beans: Lentils or pulses like soya beans, kidney beans, and chickpeas are all good sources of calcium, which is key for bone development. The best part about pulses is that they are easy for your child to digest. They are extremely rich in protein, which is important for the development of tissues. Additionally, they also have fats and carbohydrates to ensure that your baby feels satiated.

You can feed your baby pulses in the form of dal khichdi, which is the easiest and most delicious recipe.

Dairy Products: Milk, cheese and yoghurt serve as a good source of calcium. There is no alternative to milk regarding bone-building in your child. It is the richest source of calcium and is crucial in boosting your child’s physical development. Make sure to serve at least one serving of dairy foods to your little one. If your kid is lactose intolerant or is allergic to milk, non-dairy foods high in calcium should be given.
You can feed your baby milk in smoothies and shakes, or sprinkle some low-fat cheese on top of snacks and meals.
Oranges and Calcium Fortified Orange Juice : This vitamin-C-rich fruit is another rich source of calcium and phosphate that can help boost bone development in your little one. Oranges build your child’s immunity and protect them from common colds and coughs. Ensure you include this juicy fruit for strong bones in your kid’s diet. You can feed your child oranges in juice form, which should be freshly made.
Cereals : You can include cereals like brown rice, oats, ragi, etc., in your child's diet. They are high in iron and calcium. Iron and calcium-rich foods for your child are essential for healthy and strong bones. Ragi is often recommended for children suffering from a deficiency of these nutrients. You can make a brown rice porridge mix for when you run short of time or a yummy ragi cake to indulge your child’s sweet tooth.
Vegetables : Including veggies in your baby’s diet is a beautiful way to boost your little one’s strength. Vegetables with high calcium content help fill your child’s need for calcium, fibre, and other minerals. Spinach, okra, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and beans contain high amounts of calcium. Feed your baby warm spinach khichdi, stir-fried broccoli or spinach soup.
Nuts: Nuts are terrific sources of calcium for your toddler. Nuts like almonds are rich in calcium. It contributes to your baby’s physical development, especially their bones and teeth. It is safe to introduce nuts to your child after one year, but only in mashed or powdered form. Prepare nut powder at home and add it to your child's milk, porridge, or other foods.
Tofu : Tofu prepared in a calcium-based salt like calcium sulphate is rich in calcium and protein. Since tofu is a soy product, please refrain from feeding it to your baby if they have a soy allergy. You can serve it to your baby by adding it to soups or stir-fries, as finger food, or as part of other daily vegetables.
Eggs: Eggs are yet another superfood you can give your little one. They are a great source of vitamins and minerals that boost bone development in your growing baby. Some nutrients in eggs include vitamin B12, folate, zinc and copper – all very beneficial for your baby. Start giving eggs only after you check with your childcare expert.
You can feed eggs to your baby by scrambling them or mashing hard-boiled eggs.

Wrapping it up!

Ensuring your baby gets enough calcium is important for their healthy growth and bone development. By introducing a variety of calcium-rich foods like pulses, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and nuts into their diet, you can support their physical development and overall well-being. Remember to be mindful of any food allergies or intolerances and consult your paediatrician for personalised recommendations. By making informed choices, you’ll help your little one build a strong foundation for a healthy future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s a list of FAQs about Calcium Rich Foods For Babies

How can I include calcium-rich foods in my baby’s diet?

Add finely powdered sesame seeds or almond flour to porridge or mix yoghurt into pureed fruits. Mashed tofu or soft paneer (Indian cottage cheese) can be great finger foods or blended into other dishes for added nutrition.

What if my baby is lactose-intolerant? Are there other sources of calcium?

Lactose-intolerant babies can still get calcium from non-dairy sources such as tofu, ragi, chia seeds, and certain leafy greens. Many plant-based milk alternatives are also fortified with calcium, but always consult your paediatrician for specific recommendations.

Is it safe to give leafy greens to my baby for calcium?

Yes, greens like spinach and kale are good calcium sources. Still, they should be cooked thoroughly and pureed for easier digestion since greens can contain oxalates that may interfere with calcium absorption. Balance them with other calcium sources like dairy or seeds.

Can fortified foods help meet my baby’s calcium needs?

Yes, fortified cereals and certain baby foods are enriched with calcium and can be helpful. Always check labels and consult your paediatrician to ensure these fortified foods fit into a balanced diet for your baby.

How much calcium does my baby need daily, and is food enough?

For babies 6–11 months old, about 260 mg of calcium per day is recommended. Breast milk or formula provides most of this requirement. Small amounts of calcium-rich foods can complement their intake but ensure breast milk or formula remains the primary source until age one.

Explore More Articles on Food & Nutrition

Busting the food myths during pregnancy

Diet During Pregnancy, Nutritional Needs: What to Eat, What not to Eat

How nutritional supplements will become your best buddies now

Your ideal folate-rich pregnancy diet & foods you should avoid

13 best diet Foods for pregnant women in the second trimester

Why a healthy diet is the biggest priority for you now

Your ideal diet now and why you shouldn't really be ''eating for two!''

Your ideal diet now: How much Vitamin C do you need?

Why your ideal diet should have more of iron now

Nutritional supplements you should be taking

What you should be eating and avoiding

Why you should be eating high-fiber foods now

Why this is the right time to completely kick caffeine out of your diet

Healthy snacks you should keep in handy now

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

Recent

Articles

Netherlands Work Visa: All You Need to Know for Indian Applicants

TeamAcko Nov 13, 2024

Delhi Set to Roll Out WhatsApp-based System for Seamless Challan Payments

TeamAcko Nov 8, 2024

Seychelles Visa for Indians: A Guide

TeamAcko Oct 25, 2024

The UK Youth Mobility Visa: A Summary

TeamAcko Oct 25, 2024

Australian Golden Visa Scheme: All that You Wanted to Know

TeamAcko Oct 25, 2024